I think this (2013, that is... yeah, I'm ahead of the game...) is the year to pare things down.

Last spring, I was all over the place. I left my job and had a combination of relieved, happy, bitter and depressed going on for at least a couple of months after. I wanted to race a bunch of sprints but when the time came, I lacked motivation and drive. Looking back, I think I suffered from a combination of low-grade depression and paradigm shift all summer, but things are a bit clearer now (not to mention, a lot more positive). School is fantastic, and my #1 priority (Kiernan says I'm what they refer to as a "try-hard" in his high school. No wonder the NYC public schools are in such good shape.) With that, I've found some new motivation to do well with my downtime hobby, triathlon.

I want to narrow my focus this year. No more signing up for 6 sprints and doing 3; that's a huge waste, and really, I just wasn't excited about any of it. I'm keeping it lean and mean, with the end-goal of ramping up my motivation and thrills about, you know, racing. We pay a ton of money for this stuff; it should probably be fun. I'm signing up for 2, 3 at the max, races (with the caveat that I might want to throw another run race in for fun next fall, depending on how everything goes). I'm starting with base building, starting now, including a lot of weights and strength, because my weak core and glutes have knocked the wind out of my early-season efforts more than once. I think this is going to help both my wallet and my mindset ('cause god knows, both need help sometimes).

Step #1? Buy myself some new Armadillo tires. According to the guy at the bike shop, these things will take nails and still not flat. I'm going to need something to keep riding outside if this winter is anything like last winter (i.e., not like winter at all).

Step #2: Go upstate and pick apples tomorrow! Um, yeah, that's nothing like training. But bags of apples are heavy! And healthful! Right?

Step #3: Find myself a good February to April half marathon in the sub $50 range. Suggestions?